Geopark Way

The Geopark Way is 177.47 km long with 3,865 meters of climbing, so it is usually treated as a multi-day walk rather than a single long outing. A common schedule is about 10 days on trail, though stronger walkers may move faster and anyone stopping often in towns or at geology sites may take longer.

The Geopark Way starts in Bridgnorth in Shropshire. The opening section explores Bridgnorth’s Permian sandstone cliffs above the River Severn, including the split between High Town and Low Town, before the route continues south toward the Wyre Forest Coalfield.

The Geopark Way is generally graded Medium, which puts it within reach of regular hikers with decent fitness and some experience of back-to-back walking days. The challenge comes from its 177.47 km length and 3,865 meters of total ascent, plus a mix of riverside paths, woodland tracks, ridge walking, and heathland.

Yes. The Geopark Way is commonly broken into shorter day walks rather than completed in one push. The route is widely described as 109 miles and is often split into 17 day stages, which makes it practical for section hiking from Bridgnorth and other settlements along the line of the trail.

The Geopark Way is designed to link geological sites, so the terrain changes a lot over the route. From Shropshire it heads out from the sandstone cliffs of Bridgnorth and then continues beside rivers, through forests, along ridge tops, and across heathland, with geology and landscape as the main theme throughout.

Dogs can generally be taken on public rights of way in Shropshire, so many sections of the Geopark Way are suitable for walking with a dog. Control matters because long-distance routes can include farmland, gates, stiles, livestock, and mixed-use countryside access, so dogs need to be kept close and managed carefully on rural sections.

For a Geopark Way start in Bridgnorth, the most practical option is to use one of the town car parks and walk into the trailhead area in High Town. Shropshire Council lists Bridgnorth town parking, including car parks such as Severn Street and Innage Lane, and overnight parking is generally permitted in council car parks where local restrictions do not apply.